Scott Carter’s Blog Carter’s Corner

Friday September 14, 2012
On this date in Gators history: Sept. 14, 1974

Florida opened the 1974 season by beating California 21-17 at Gainesville.

The Bears boasted star quarterback Steve Bartkowski, who nine months later was taken No. 1 overall in the ’75 NFL draft by the Atlanta Falcons, and tailback Chuck Muncie, the No. 3 overall pick of the New Orleans Saints in ’76.

The Gators, though, limited Bartkowski to just 162 passing yards and one touchdown, while Muncie rushed for 91 yards and a touchdown and caught four passes for 49 yards and a score.

It was backup quarterback Jimmy Fisher who rescued the Gators, relieving an ineffective Don Gaffney (1 of 8 for just 7 yards) to go 4-for-5 for 70 yards, including a 27-yard TD strike to wide receiver and future Gator Radio Network color analyst Lee McGriff.